Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger admitted that with Arthur Smith as the team’s new offensive coordinator, Ryan Tannehill makes the most sense as a free agency quarterback addition for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Spielberger still named the Steelers one of his top landing spots for quarterback Kirk Cousins on the February 2 episode of the PFF NFL Show.
“Ryan Tannehill is the easier connection because of the Tennessee days with [him and Arthur Smith],” Spielberger said. “But I also wonder if [the Steelers] sit there and say, ‘Look, we’ve gone 9-8, 10-7 a bunch of years in a row with frankly, replacement level quarterback play. Below average no question about it.’
“Cameron Heyward is going to be 35, I think, next year. T.J. Watt is going to be 30. I’m sure he’s going to be good for several more years, but maybe they just say, ‘You know what, let’s make a bit of a splash. Go get Kirk Cousins, and we think we can win a couple playoff games with everything the same but then you add in a clear upgrade at quarterback.’
“I think Pittsburgh becomes fascinating there.”
Although he could still re-sign with the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins will be the league’s top free agent quarterback this offseason.
Cousins, who will turn 36 in August, is 76-67-2 in his NFL career as a starter. He led the Vikings to a 4-4 record in 2023 before suffering a right torn Achilles tendon on October 29.
Cousins is also 1-3 in his postseason career. The Steelers will be aiming to end a 5-game playoff losing streak in 2024.
Kenny Pickett Not a Fit For Arthur Smith’s Offense?
Cousins is obviously an upgrade over Kenny Pickett. There’s no denying that.
But the other main reason Spielberger argued the Steelers as a landing spot for Cousins was he doesn’t view Pickett as a fit for Smith’s offense.
“Arthur Smith can change, I’m not saying he can’t,” Spielberger said. “But what he does historically, and what Kenny Pickett and this offense has done, not the same thing in any way shape or form.”
